Sunderland legend Charlie Hurley insists Sunderland must pull out all the stops to keep Julio Arca on Wearside.

The Black Cats announced earlier this week that they are set to open contract talks with the Argentinian left-sider later this month in a bid to tie him to the club beyond the summer of 2005, which is when his current deal runs out.

Arca would be able to leave the club for nothing next year and Sunderland are anxious to ensure that does not happen.

Celtic and West Brom have already been linked with the 23-year-old and the Wearsiders want to extend Arca's contract in an effort to stop any speculation in its tracks.

For his part, Arca has consistently said that he is happy at Sunderland and would like to stay at the club.

Arca is a popular figure with the Sunderland fans and Hurley, who was also a terrace hero to the Wearside supporters who idolised him during his 12 years at the club in the late 50s and 60s, reckons the Black Cats must do everything in their power to keep him.

Hurley said: "Arca is a terrific player, he's the most exciting player at the Stadium of Light. It looks like the club are going to try and get him to stay and I think that is the right thing to do.

"The fans at Sunderland are the best in the land and Arca is a hero to them.

"He has great vision, fantastic close control, he creates goals when he plays on the wing and he scores a few too.

"He is the kind of player the fans want to see. You would be mad to let him go because a replacement of the same quality would cost a fortune."

Meanwhile, Sunderland are still waiting to complete the signing of Oxford midfielder Dean Whitehead on a three-year contract.

Whitehead, 22, is out of contract with the Third Division club this summer and is expected to sign for the Wearsiders when his deal at the Kassam Stadium expires at the end of June.

Sunderland are also chasing Mansfield Town's young midfielder Liam Lawrence. The 22-year-old is also out of contract this summer and has already turned down the chance to join Crewe, whose boss Dario Gradi has admitted defeat in trying to land the Stags' star.